Insole and shank stiffener therefor



Jan. 19, 1943.

N. ROSENTHAL INSOLE AND SHANK STIFFENER THEREFOR Filed March 6, 1941 vmn Patented Jan. 19, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE INSOLE AND SHANKSTIFFENER THEREFOR Nathan Roscnthal, Roxbury, Mass.

Application March 6, 1941, Serial No. 382,083

1 Claim. (01. 36-71) My present invention relates to boots and shoes,and more particularly to the insole and shank stiffeners utilized in themanufacture of boots and shoes.

Heretofore, various devices have been made to reinforce and stiffen theshank parts of boots and shoes, usually such shank stiffeners comprisingthin metallic members which were either applied to the heel and shankportion of the shoe after lasting, or, in some instances, were securedto the insole before the insole was applied to the shoe.

Such prior constructions have been unsatisfactory because too greatrigidity was usually imparted to the shoe structure by the metal shankstiffener, particularly if the shank stiffener was secured at each endto the insole; and, if only secured at one end, the opposite end portionwould work and wear in the material of the insole.

Furthermore, such prior shank stiffeners, whether of metal Or of othermaterial, were expensive and involved considerable difficulty in properpositioning for the results desired.

In my present invention, I have devised a novel form of shank stiffenerwhich can be secured at each end of the stiffener directly to the insoleand yet presents and preserves a yielding or flexible rigidity whichwill give the desired stiffness between the heel and shank of the shoestructure, and yet will also permit some yielding and bending, therebyincreasing the flexibility of the shoe and give increased comfort to thefoot of the wearer during walking.

A further important feature of my present invention consists in thefacililty with which my improved shank stiffener and insole structurecan be combined and utilized as a reinforcing or supporting member tothe present well known type of so-called cookie insole.

A still further important and desirable feature is that my combinedinsole and shank stiffener is preferably united before the insole isattached to the last during shoe manufacture, and thus the insole isfitted with the shank stiffening element or with the combined shankstifiener and cookie supporting structure as a complete prepared insole,and with both ends of the stiffening element secured to the insole atexactly the proper points for the most beneficial effects.

A still further novel and important feature consists in the arrangementand construction of my combined insole with the shank stiffeningelement, permitting the stiffening element to extend along one side,preferably the arch side of the shoe, and necessarily on the arch sidewhere a cookie insole construction is employed; and then with theprojecting arm extending from the side of the insole into theapproximate center at a desired position in the shank where it issecured thereto.

In the manufacture of McKay shoes, this arrangement presents nodifficulty; and even in welt shoes, I cut a short slot underneath thesewing rib and fit the forward portion or arm of the shank stiffenerunder the sewing rib where it is secured to the shank of the insole,thus enabling a Welt shoe structure to be manufactured withoutinterruption in the inseaming portion by standard methods.

In carrying out my invention, I provide a stiffening element somewhat inthe form of an elongated U with the extending arms constituting theinsole-engaging and fastening portions, and with the connecting bodyportion of the stifiener along the edge part of the insole. Thus, whenthe arms are secured to the insole, rigidity is obtained whilepermitting a certain Y yielding or flexibility.

Furthermore, I am enabled to make my improved stiffener construction bystamping the same inexpensively out of thin metal and by simpleattaching means, such as rivets or the like.

Where a cookie support is desired, the connecting body portion of theshank stiffening element is formed with a suitable extension curvedupwardly to fit under and support the cookie extension, as will bereadily understood.

Referring to the drawing illustrating preferred embodiments of thepresent invention:

Fig. l is a view in perspective of my shank stiffening element with thecookie supporting extension;

Fig. 2 is a similar view in perspective of the shank stiffener forMcKay, Littleway, or welt shoe use without the cookie support;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of an insole with the shank stiffener of Fig. 1attached;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of an insole with the shank stiffener of Fig. 2attached;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 55 of Fi 3, and

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 3.

As shown in the drawing, my shank stiffener, preferably of thin metaland of spring steel or the like, or any suitable alloy, comprises a mainor body portion I, extending arms 2 and 3 perpendicular to the bodyportion I, and with openings or recesses 4-4 in the outer portions ofthe arms 2 and 3 to receive the tacks, rivets, or at taching means whenunited to the insole.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, a cookie supporting extension 5 isillustrated of suitable curvature to correspond with the type and styleof insole to which the stiffener is to be attached. I may prefertolighten the extension 5 by cut-outs G'6, although these are, ofcourse, entirely optional but they can be made at the same time theshank stiffener is stamped out.

As shown in Fig. 3, an insole I0 with sewing rib 12 of usual type andconstruction for welt shoe work is provided with a cookie extension l4,and my novel shank stiffener is illustrated as fitted to this type ofinsole before the insole is applied to the last. For the purpose ofcombining the shank stiffener and insole, I cut a short slot at anappropriate position, as shown at I5, Figs. 3 and 5, underneath thesewing rib l2 thru which slot the arm of the shank stiffening element isfitted so that the body portion l is snugly in contact with the outersurface of the sewing rib i2. Rivets or other fastening means l6|6 arefitted thru the openings 4-4 in each arm and pass thru the body of theinsole, as shown in Fig. 5, thus securing the arms 2 and 3 to theinsole, where rivets are employed. These must be fitted before theinsole is applied to the last, but if the stiffener is fitted afterassembling on the last, then tacks can be utilized.

Referring to the form shown in Figs. 2 and 4, where no cookie extensionis present, the body portion of my improved shank stiffener has arms 2|and 22 similar to those already described, with suitable openings thruthe ends, as shown at 23-23, to receive the rivets 24 and attach thestiffener to the insole 25, as shown in Fig. 4. The insole of Fig. 4 isshown of the welt type and, therefore, with a sewing rib 26 and aslotted portion 21 underneath the rib for the forward arm 22 of theshank stiffener.

It will thus be appreciated that my novel type of shank stiffener andnovel insole and stiffener attached thereto present, what I term, ayielding rigidity, because a shank stiffening feature is imparted by theU shaped type of stiffening element, and yet with the extending arms andwith the interconnected body portion sufiicient yield is secured.Furthermore, I can obtain the advantages incident to permanentlyattaching each end of the shank stiffener, one at the heel portion, andthe other at any predetermined part of the shank portion which may bedeemed most advisable for the particular type, size, and style of shoefor which the insole is fitted to secure the best results. Thus, thestiffener can be shifted considerably, particularly where the type shownin Figs. 2 and 4 is employed, thus giving a range of adjustment for thestiffening action imparted by the riveting of the forward arm 22 to thepoint in the shank of the insole from which the yielding rigidity may bemost effective.

The stiffener and combined insole and stiffener are easily, quickly, andeconomically made and attached and are particularly valuable andimportant as a cookie supporting element where such type of insole isused. 7

While I prefer to utilize thin metal, which can be readily andeconomically stamped from sheet material, I may also employ syntheticplastic or other proper stiffening material to carry out my invention.

I claim:

As an article of manufacture, a welt insole having a raised sewing ribextending along the marginal portion of the forepart and shank for-Wardly of the line of the heel breast, a metallic shank stiffeningelement rigidly secured to said insole at spaced positions in thelongitudinal middle line of said insole, one position being in themiddle portion of the heel seat rearwardly of the line of the heelbreast, and the other secured position being at the forward part andlongitudinal middle of the shank portion, said shank stiffening elementbeing in substantial U-shaped form, having the ends of the arms of eachU constituting the rigidly secured portions to the insole, the rearwardarm secured to the heel seat part of the insole being rearwardly of thesewing rib and the forward arm extending thru one slot only under thatpart of the sewing rib adjacent the forward secured position, theremaining portion of the sewing rib being uncut, whereby a rigid shankstiffener is provided from the heel seat to the forward part of theshank portion of the insole independently of any other shank stiffeningele ment.

NATHAN ROSENTHAL.

